Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-28

structed line of pipe connecting the well
with the busy little city of JohnstOwn,
where are the works of the Cambria Iron
Company, the most extensive combined
iron and steel plant in the United Safes.
The pipe is ten inches in diameter tor
distance of eighteen miles from the well;
then there is ten miles of tWelve-inCh
pipe, eight miles Of siXteen-inCh, and four
miles of tWenty-four inch. Only little
over One-third of the gas produced by the
well is turned into this line, but the vol
ume Of gas that reaches JOhnstOWn is
more than sufficient to furnish fuel, not
only for every department of the Cambria
Iron COmpany's mills, but tor every other
mandatory and private residence along
the pipe line.
The experiment of the managers Of the
IdleWild Campmeeting grounds, about
midway between the well and Jamestown,
will illust rate in some degree the force of
the pressure of $50 pounds of gas. An
inch pipe was connected with the main
line 1000 feet from the entrance to the
grounds. At the gate the size OF the pipe
was reduced 70 three-fOurths OF an inch.
From this pipe branches of half-inCh pipe
were carried in all directions, and st
hundred places through the grove were
run into the air fifteen feet, the purpose
being to secure a good illumination for
night meetings. A turn of quarter of
an inch to the valve which allowed the
gas to enter the distributing pipes from
the inch main was sufficient to cause the
fame TO shoot five feet into the air, from
each of the hundred standpipes, as the
branches intended for illu nInstiOn are
called. One evening while religious
services were in progress the valve broke
and the full pressure of gas was turned
into the smaller pipes. IL force blew
out the flames instantly, anc from each OF
the hundred pines which bat moment
before had spread a mellow jght over the
worshipers there came ii sound that
re- emOltd the shriIl notes of factory
whistle mOre5than anything else. Moth
ing could be done before morning. The
cottagers were afraid to light candles
| or lamps, because, for a they knew,
their houses were filled with the gas, and
speck of fire might cause al explosion;
they could not talk to each Their without
shouting themselves hoarse, could not
sleep for the internal noise On every side,
and, on the whole, the nisht was most
miserable.
| The pipe line to JohnstO Tn was COM
! plettd month ago. When 1t was pro-
jected 8 number of experts laid that the
attempt to transport gas more than
thirty miles without pumping stations to
maintain pressure would De failure
| The result is exactly the reverse, and the
| company is now considering whether the
immense quantity of gas which escapes
! from the we'll daily shall be carried east
or transported to points west. They are
satisfied thai One-third of the product OF
! the well will be sufficient TO supply all
consumers of JohnstOWn and between
that place and this well for years. 1t is
sold for 100000 year, and this sum
/ will be increased as the number OF con-
sumers grows. The cost of maintaining
/ the line is not over $4,000 year.
Another $40, 900 year will maintain the
lines that will carry of the gas that is
now going to waste, and the company ex-
poets to have g net revenue Of $4,000 q
yesr from one well.
The Westmoreland and Cambria Com
psny Is composed entirely of local cspi-
tslists. Its headquarters are in Pittsburg,
but 1t has had no share Of the develop
ment of the business of furnishing natural